System for draining land areas through siphoning from a permeable catch basin

ABSTRACT

A principal catch basin defining a certain storage capacity, the catch basis situated below the level of the ground, having an upper level opening for receiving surface water drainage thereunto, and having side walls partially constructed of permeable geotextile fabric for allowing both sub-surface air to flow into the catch basin for providing additional water absorption by the ground, and for allowing water flow and sub-surface air to flow into the catch basin for providing additional water absorption by the ground, and for allowing water flow into the sub-surface water flow through the permeable basin to serve as a collection for sub-surface drainage. The system would include the ability to create a siphon within the system so that as water drains into the principal collection basin, the water may be automatically siphoned to a distant exit point or to an exit cylinder, so that there is a constant movement of water from the principal collection point to the distant exit point. In addition, there may be a plurality of collection basins which siphon into the principal collection basin which would then siphon into the distant exit point.

This is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 07/187,022,filed on Apr. 27, 1988, now U.S. Pat. No. 4,919,568, and herebyincorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field Of The Invention:

The present invention relates to drainage for land areas. Moreparticularly, the present invention relates to a system for drainingland areas, such as golf courses and farms through the collection ofwater into a principal catch basin having permeable walls, andsubsequently siphoning the water collected from the catch basin to adistant exit point such as a lake, canal, ditch or the like. There couldbe further included a series of secondary catch basins draining into theprincipal permeable catch basin, so that an even larger area may bedrained through siphoning from a single control system.

2. General Background:

In the present state of the art, drainage water such as water from heavyrains or the like may be collected either by a catch basin or asub-surface drainage system that collects water through seepage. At thepresent time, a catch basin, which consist of a substantially box-likechamber is set within the ground and positioned at a low point wherewater would flow under gravity and be collected within the catch basin.At this point the water is exited through a solid pipe at a one percentslope whenever possible, so that the water then exits into some type ofcollection system such as a lake, pond or creek. However, often timesthere is insufficient fall from the point of the collection system tothe exit point to either obtain a 1% grade or any positive grade at all.The only alternatives, therefore, in the past, have been to either notattempt to do the drainage at all or to attempt to build a gravel sump,dry well, or sump pump. The concept behind these systems relate to thefact that the gravel sump will provide some temporary storage capacityfor the water moving out of the collection system and maintain it untilit can slowly seep back into the soil profile. Often times there will bea dry well built that will extend deep enough to reach a permeablestrata below the less permeable layers that are near the surface. Thesystem has two main problems, i.e., (a) the sumps have very littlecapacity, and once the storage capacity is filled, the collection systemwill back up and stop functioning; and (b) for a system to extend deepenough into the ground to hit a sand strata, it can be a very expensivesystem to install, depending on the depth of the sand strata. TheEnvironmental Protection Agency is now concerned that bringing surfacewater down to these strata may contaminate the water table.

The other alternative is to build a sump pump which operates a pump offof a float switch and pumps the water out every time the level of thewater activates the float switch. The problem with these systems is thatthey require a large amount of maintenance, are expensive, and a pumphas to be located at each sump.

There also is a problem with the existing type of catch basin that ispresently installed. These systems operate very well when they aresurrounded by an impermeable surface, such as asphalt or concrete forstreet or parking lot drainage. However, in land drainage such as farmsand golf courses, these systems are surrounded by permeable areas ofsoil. The problem is that before the water can enter the catch basinsystem, many times a large amount of water is trapped into the permeablesoil profile surrounding the catch basin itself. Once that water istrapped into the soil profile, it cannot enter through the solid wallsconstructed of concrete or brick, and stays in the soil profile, thuscreating a wet soggy saturated area. The other problem with existingcatch basins is that they are designed only to stop the largestparticles from entering the pipe that is used to drain the water out ofthe catch basin. Therefore, many contaminants such as small rocks andbranches become lodged into the piping system to prolong the time periodbefore clogging occurs in drainage pipes, it has been a common practiceto oversize the pipe in relation to the amount of water that isnecessary to be drained. This oversizing of pipe to prevent cloggingincreases the expense of materials for the piping, as well as theinstallation costs because larger amounts of dirt must be excavated toinstall the pipe. Also, there is no system provided in existing drainagesystems for allowing the escape of air trapped within the soil profile.This air reaches an equilibrium with the infiltrating water and stopsthe infiltration of the water into the soil profile. If this air wereallowed to escape, a larger portion of the profile could absorb theinfiltrating rainwater.

There have been several patents which address the drainage of water in asystem. The most pertinent are listed as follows, including a narrativeof each submitted in applicants Prior Art Statement, filed herewith:

    ______________________________________                                        U.S. PAT. NO.                                                                           INVENTOR    TITLE                                                   ______________________________________                                        4,299,697 Curati, Jr. "A Liquid Containment And                                                     Storage System For Rail-                                                      road Tracks"                                            1,734,777 Pike        "System Of Draining"                                      462,864 Hershberger "Catch Basin For Sewers"                                2,432,203 Miller      "Catch Basin"                                           4,472,086 Leach       "Geotextile Fabric                                                            Construction"                                           ______________________________________                                    

SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

The system of the present invention solves the shortcomings of thedrainage of land areas in a simple and straightforward manner. What isprovided is a principal catch basin defining a certain storage capacity;the catch basin is situated below the level of the ground, having anupper level opening for receiving surface water drainage thereunto, andhaving sidewalls partially constructed of permeable geotextile fabricfor allowing both sub-surface air to flow into the catch basin forproviding additional water absorption by the ground; and for allowingthe flow of sub-surface water through the permeable walled basin toserve as a collection area for what would have been trapped sub-surfacewater around a solid wall basin.

There is further included a system for siphoning water collected in thebasin which includes a line extending from beneath the surface of thewater collected in the basin to a distant exit point. This system wouldas a novel feature the ability to maintain a constantly primed line fromthe permeable catch basin to a natural body of water such as a lake orpond. The line would initially be primed in any manner which issatisfactory to create the initial siphon. The easiest way would seem tobe through the use of a three way valve. This valve would be placed nearthe final exit point. During the priming process, the valve would closeoff the section of pipe from the valve to the exit, and open to the hoseused for priming. After all of the siphon line was filled with water,the valve would be closed off to the hose and the hose could then beremoved without losing the siphon. Lastly, the valve to the end of thepipe would then be reopened and allowed to siphon. In the preferredembodiment, this siphon would be maintained by the process of diggingthe catch basins to the lowest level that a natural body of water wouldattain. This siphon would be maintained without the use of any pumps,valves, switches or electricity. In addition, to the preferredembodiment, there would also be an alternative design that could beutilized when no body of water was present, or when the body of waterthat is present is not dependable in terms of the constant levels thatit would maintain. In this design, not only would the siphoning bemaintained by digging the depth of the catch basin to a predeterminedlevel, but in addition, there would be included a water-filled exitcylinder at the distant exit point. This cylinder would contain afeature that would slow down the evaporation process in the cylinder, aswell as prevent the cylinder from becoming a breeding area formosquitoes. This system could be utilized in almost all areas, and italso could harness the atmospheric pressure to move the water over thehills in between the collection point and the exit point without theneed for pumps, switches, floats, valves or electricity.

When neither of the two previous designs would be practical because of aunique local condition; such as a rock soil profile which would preventthe digging of the collection basin to the needed depth, a third designis available that could be used in every application. It would include afloat switch located at the intake pipe in the collection system. Thisfloat switch would open when the level in the basin rose high enough toactivate the float, and would stop the flow of water when the level wentdown low enough to lower the float. If this was the only part of thissystem it would not work in a siphon system, because when the floatswitch stopped the flow of water into the pipe, air would enter at theother end of the pipe and cause the pipe to lose its prime. However,using a shutoff at the intake in conjunction with a water filled exitcylinder would be successful because the water filled exit cylinderwould keep the air from entering the pipe, thereby not allowing thewater to fall out. This concept would be similar to what happens whenyou completely submerge a bucket of water into a swimming pool and thenpull it to the surface with the bottom facing the sky. The water willstay in the bucket and be pulled above the level of the swimming pool aslong as the seal around the rim of the bucket is submerged in the waterand does not break union with the level of the water in the swimmingpool, allowing air to enter. If the seal is not broken, the water wouldremain in the bucket indefinitely. Therefore, this invention would use afloat operated shut-off at the intake that would stop the air fromentering the intake of the pipe, and a water filled exit cylinder tostop the air from entering the pipe at the exit point.

In addition, there may be included a series of secondary collectionbasins, located at a point above the level of the primary collectionbasin, to effect a "drainage" of the secondary basin into the primarybasin in order to drain a larger land area;

Therefore, it is a principal object of the present invention to providea siphoning system to collect sub-surface and surface drainage waterfrom land areas;

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a design of adrainage system that by its unique design harnesses the atmosphericpressure to move the water over hills in between the points ofcollection and the final exit point;

It is a further object of this invention that this siphoning system byits design will utilize the natural forces to regulate the system andwithout the use of auxiliary pumps, valves, electricity or switches,have it stop automatically before it would otherwise lose its prime whenthere is a natural body of water available to exit to;

It is a further object of the present invention that this siphoningsystem by its design continuously maintain its siphon so that the waterin the exit line will always be primed and ready to siphon and can beused in absolutely every situation regardless of available bodies ofwater or local conditions;

It is a further object of the principal object of the present inventionto provide a principal catch basin having permeable sidewalls forallowing sub-surface drainage of water into the catch basin, andsubsequent siphoning of the water to a distant exit point;

It is still a further object of the present invention to provide a watercollection system, so that both surface and sub-surface water may bedrained from land areas to allow greater absorption of water into theland, and accommodating air flow from the soil into the basin forproviding additional space for the collection of water to the soilprofile;

It is still a further object of the present invention to provide aprincipal catch basin for siphoning water from the catch basin to adistant exit point, and a plurality of secondary catch basins fordrainage of water into the principal to provide extensive drainage inland areas;

It is still a further object of the present invention to provide asystem of drainage adaptable to provide increased drainage into the soilprofile to provide greater drying of the surface of the land;

It is still a further object of the present invention to provide a catchbasin that filters particulate matter with the use of a screen attachedto the sidewalls of the catch basin. This screen will filter all but thesmallest particles thus allowing for the use of much smaller pipe;

It is still a further object of the present invention to provide a catchbasin that filters particulate matter with a geotextile screensurrounding the upper grate so that particulate matter never enters thissystem, thus allowing for the use of much smaller pipe;

It is still a further object of the present invention to provide acollection basin that can be adapted to existing solid pipe systems thatpresently uses gravity flow, thus increasing their collection ability ofsub- surface water without changing their existing design;

It is still a further object of the present invention to create asub-surface storage compartment through the use of permeable catchbasin. Thus when the catch basin is not connected to a siphon system, itmay serve as the final collection point of a drainage system, therebyreplacing the use of the gravel sumps;

It is still a further object of the present invention to provide a meansfor draining underground spring water by using the permeable catch basinburied completely below the surface of the earth;

It is still a further object of the present invention to provide a meansfor siphoning spring water out of the permeable basin by using the basinupside down with the solid extensions coming all the way to the surfaceto allow for atmospheric pressure to enter the basin and operate thesystem; and

It is still a further object of the present invention to provide apermeable catch basin which may be stored and transported in a compactconfiguration, and which can be assembled on-site and installed withinan opening in the ground, without having to be preconstructed prior tothe transport and installation.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a further understanding of the nature and objects of the presentinvention, reference should be had to the following detailed descriptiontaken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like partsare given like reference numerals, and wherein:

FIG. 1 represents an overall perspective view of a preferred embodimentof the permeable catch basin of the present invention;

FIG. 2 represents a side elevational view of the preferred embodiment ofthe catch basin of the present invention;

FIG. 3 represents an overall representational view of the preferredembodiment of the system of the present invention;

FIG. 4 represents an overall side elevational view of the system of thepresent invention draining into a natural body of water;

FIG. 5 illustrates an overall side view of the present inventiondraining into an exit cylinder in the system of the present invention;

FIG. 6 represents an overall side view of the system of the presentinvention draining into an exit cylinder and utilizing a valve systemwithin the permeable catch basin of the present invention;

FIG. 7 illustrates an overall cutaway view of the permeable catch basinof the present invention illustrating the valving system containedwithin;

FIG. 7A illustrates a system of the present invention utilizing amodified auxiliary catch basin, the permeable catch basin in thepreferred embodiment of the present invention and an exit cylinder;

FIG. 8 represents an alternative embodiment of the permeable catch basinof the present invention;

FIG. 9 illustrates a second alternate embodiment of a permeable catchbasin of the present invention draining into an exit cylinder;

FIG. 10 illustrates a side elevational view of a putting cup utilizingthe permeable catch basin concept of the present invention;

FIG. 11 represents a drainage line utilizing the permeable catch basinconcept of the present invention;

FIGS. 12 through 16 illustrate an additional embodiment of a collapsiblecatch basin which would be utilized in the system of the presentinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The present invention provides a system for draining land areas throughthe use of a novel construction of a permeable catch basin, togetherwith a siphoning system for automatically delivering the water collectedin the basin from the basin to a distant exit point. The system isconceived under the theory that the water which is collected in thesurface of the earth will slowly drain into the earth if (a) there isless water in the soil profile so that additional water can beaccommodated, and (b) the air which is trapped within the soil profileis given a route to escape. Therefore, there is a need to relieve theair within the soil so that the soil may accommodate additional waterabsorption.

Therefore, to solve this problem of drainage of land areas, FIGS. 1through 11 illustrate the system of the present invention. The systemconceived comprises a principal catch basin, the catch basin of thetypical location, i.e., a rectangular box situated beneath the surfaceof the earth with its opening flush with the face of the earth.

In a typical catch basin, the walls or the floor of the catch basinwould be solid concrete or brick, and the upper portion would be a grillwork or the like for receiving only surface runoff. However, the catchbasin 10 of the present invention, as illustrated in the Figures, wouldinclude a solid floor portion 12, a plurality of rigidly constructed yetpermeable wall portions 14; preferably constructed of heavy wire ormolded plastic with open areas or the like, having flow spacestherethrough. The wall portions and floor portions would define a catchbasin 10 receiving space 10A therewithin. An exterior layer of permeablematerial, such as geotextile fabric 15, mounted on and around the walls14 and floor 10 providing a bag like structure, would provide flowspaces therethrough; so that water or air (arrows 18) under pressurewithin the soil profile 20 surrounding the catch basin 10 would beforced through the material into the confines of the basin 10, and wouldcollect there in view of the fact that there is no pressure from theinterior of the basin 10 to force the water into the soil 20, unless thesoil profile 20 becomes drier and has therefore less pressure than thepressure of the water within the basin. The catch basin 10 would also beprovided with a lid 11, having again a rigid but permeable framework,and a geotextile fabric 15 on its exterior for allowing water to flowthrough the material from the surface, and to allow flow of airtherethrough.

The top portion 11 of catch basin 10 would consist of a standardprefabricated ABS Grate. The grate would be modified to provide a screenmade out of geotextile fabric 19 placed over the grate. This bonnetwould allow surface water to flow through, but would filter out the dirtsoil particles and a particulate matter 21 that would plug up the systemif the grate remained open, as is normally the case. This fabric doesnot interfere with the atmospheric pressure that would be needed tooperate the siphoning system, as will be discussed further. If the grateor lid 11 was a solid top, the siphoning process would not take place.This fabric would have to be replaced from time to time because ofdeterioration from the ultraviolet light. Also, it will have to beperiodically cleaned or replaced, since it is a filter.

Therefore, in its configuration, as rainwater or the like would collecton the surface of the soil 20 around the area of the catch basin 10, thewater would place additional pressure on the air trapped within the soil20. Catch basin 10, with its permeable wall 14, would serve as a releasefor the air from the soil profile 20 into the catch basin 10, and outinto the atmosphere so that additional water could penetrate into soilprofile 20. Following the movement of the water into the profile 20, asthe soil profile 20 became saturated with water, hydrostatic pressurewould force the water in the soil profile 20 to move through thesidewall 14 of the catch basin 10 (Arrows 18), and to begin to collect,together with the surface water, in the catch basin 10, so that thecatch basin 10 would serve as an initial collection point for thesurrounding water. Additionally, a collection pipe 19 (FIG. 4) woulddrain into basin 10, following collection of underground water (Arrows23) therefore the permeable wall 25 of pipe 19.

In addition, as represented in FIG. 4, the catch basin 10 would includea siphon line 30 extending from a point 32 near the bottom 12 of thecollection basin and would extend, preferably underground, to acollection point 26, such as a larger drainage canal or ditch so thatwater within the catch basin 10 could be moved individually to distantexit point 40. The initial priming could be done by any method that waseffective. The type of tubing utilized in the system would be some typeof PVC tubing or plastic. It must maintain a certain rigidity that wouldnot crush or be squeezed when buried or run over by equipment.

Therefore, it is foreseen, that once a siphon is created between thewater collected in the catch basin 10 and the distant exit point 40, theflow of the water would occur naturally given the maintenance of thevacuum within the line 30 in between drainage cycles. Also, there may bepoints 13, that are higher than either the initial collection point, orthe distant exit point, (FIG. 4), as the atmosphere pressure will forcewater up to heights of 33 feet above the level of the water within catchbasin 10, thus eliminating the need to trench on a steady slope of 1%between basin 10 and exit point 40.

In order to maintain the siphon within the line in preferred embodimentin the Figures, it is mandatory to be able to dig the catch basin 10 tothe depths of level 21, which is the lowest possible point that thenatural body of water 26 could ever attain. In FIG. 4, whenever thewater in basin 10 siphoned down to the level of the water in the lake26, (level 2; this level would always be higher than level 21) thesiphoning process would cease, and the prime would be maintained in line30, because there would still be water above the intake 32 of line 30.The siphoning would take place anytime the water in basin 10 was higherthan the level of the water in lake 26. For the purposes of thisillustration this would be level 1. Therefore, level 1 would bedifferent than level 2 whenever the siphoning process was going on, yetwould be the same as level 2 whenever the siphoning process had stopped.

Therefore, once the siphon is created in line 30, it is maintainedthrough the use of the depth of the catch basin being dug to a pointbelow where the siphoning process would take place. The siphon thenwould always be ready to start again whenever new water entered thebasin 10 and caused the level of the water in 10 to be higher than thecurrent level of the water in the natural body of water 26. If there wasa problem with the level of body of water 26 rising high enough to backsiphon into 10, then line 30 could be fitted with a one way valve at theend of the line.

FIG. 45 illustrates a design of the system utilizing water filled exitcylinder 25.

In order to maintain the siphon within the line 30 in the designillustrated in FIG. 45, it is necessary to be able to dig catch basin 10to level 3, which would be the lowest point that the water-filled exitcylinder could evaporate to in normal operation. Therefore, the vacuumor siphon would be maintained with the line 30, since the level of thewater within the catch basin 10 has not reached a point below the lowestpoint to which the water in a receiving means, which is an exit cylinder25, could evaporate in normal operation. Therefore, once the siphon iscreated, it is maintained through the use of a single water-filled exitcylinder 25, and digging the catch basin 10 to a depth below where thewater-filled exit cylinder 25 could possibly evaporate to. The siphoningprocess will stop when the water level in basin 10 reaches the top ofthe water-filled exit cylinder (level 2). Line 30 is permanently placedin the cylinder 25. To slow down the evaporation process as much aspossible, there would be a top 27 that would rise when water is enteringthe exit cylinder allowing water to seep out over the top edge of thecylinder 25. Yet when the water was not coming into the cylinder, itwould rest on the top of the cylinder to stop evaporation and preventthe cylinder from being a breeding place for mosquitoes.

In order to maintain the siphon in line 30 in FIG. 6, there is includeda float switch 29 at the point of the intake located in the collectionbasin which is controlled by the rise and fall of the water level. Whenthe water level rises to a point which activates the float switch 29,the water siphons into the intake 32 and exits through the water filledexit cylinder 25. When the water level is siphoned down to a point wherethe float can close the intake, the water flow is shut off, but theprime is maintained in the line because the water filled exit cylinderkeeps the air from entering the exit pipe. Therefore, once the siphon iscreated in line 30, it is maintained through the use of a simple floatswitch and a water filled exit cylinder and does not require anyelectricity or pumps.

In summary, the present invention would utilize the natural forces tostop the siphoning process in FIG. 4 by the use of a correctly dug catchbasin that would always keep water up to the point of naturallyoccurring siphon.

In FIG. 5 there is illustrated the preferred embodiment of the permeablecatch basin 10 utilized in draining into an exit cylinder 25 within anatural body of water as illustrated in FIG. 4, in the event that thenatural body of water has no water therein. As illustrated in FIG. 5,permeable catch basin 10 would have a certain quantity of water whichwould drain through drainage line 30 into the area of the exit cylinder25. Exit cylinder 25 would be positioned at a depth within the earth, inthis instance a cavity 26 so that the highest level of water within theexit cylinder 25 will be at the level of water as indicated in catchbasin 10. Therefore, a siphon would be maintained at all times withinline 30. As the level of water within catch basin would rise, a naturalsiphon would occur and water would flow into exit cylinder 25. Exitcylinder 25 would be adapted with a top portion 27, which wouldsubstantially float at the level of the water. In addition. Therefore,with the use of exit cylinder 25, having a quantity of water therein,the siphon between exit cylinder 25 and catch basin 10 would always bemaintained, although the water level within the body of the water atarea 26 would reach a low level or would be completely dry.

In FIG. 6, there is illustrated an embodiment utilizing the basin 10,the exit cylinder 25, and a single float switch 29 that opens and closesdepending on the height of the water. As is illustrated in FIG. 6, theexit cylinder 25 placed at a level which is below the lower most levelof the catch basin 10. Therefore, catch basin 10 includes a boxstructure 31 which would contain a quantity of water in which switchingmeans 29 would be included. Therefore, when the level of the water inthe catch basin 10 reached the point of line 33 as seen in the Figure,the switch would be maintained closed so that the siphon within 30 wouldbe in tack. When in fact the level of the water in the catch basin rosedue to water seeping into the basin, The switch ball 35 would then movethe lever 37 to the open position thus allowing water to flow into theexit cylinder 25 through the siphoning process through lines 30. Theprime is maintained during the off times by the use of the water filledexit cylinder that is placed at the end of the line and the switch inthe closed position.

When the level of the water is low there, the float switch 29 is closed,and when the level of the water is high, the float switch is open. Theprime is maintained during the off times by the use of a water filledexit cylinder placed at the end of the line.

As a further part of the system, the primary collection basin 10 wouldinclude a plurality of auxiliary catch basins 60, as illustrated in FIG.3, which would be located at a point 62 above the level of the primarycollection basin 10. The lines 61 from the auxiliary basin 60 to themain collection basin would then be primed in the same manner as theline from the main collection basin 10 to the distant exit point. Thesebasins would be dug down to level 64, so that when the auxiliary basinssiphoned to level 69, it would stop siphoning, since this would be the"off" level in the main control box (See FIG. 7A). For purposes ofconstruction, the auxiliary basin 60 could likewise be constructed of arigid framework having a permeable geotextile fabric wall foraccommodating both surface air and water flow into the basin, as similarto the construction of catch basin 10.

FIG. 8 illustrates the adaptation of the present invention of apermeable catch basin for ease of use with the siphoning system, sinceat times it may be necessary to dig relatively deep in order to reachthe levels at which the siphoning process will automatically cease. Thisutilizes a solid tube 50 that could possibly be in diameters rangingfrom 3 to 8 inches. This solid cylinder would have threads that wouldscrew onto the bottom of the catch basin 10. The tube would come insegments that would most conveniently be 1 foot long. The personinstalling the system would simply connect as many as were needed toreach the depth required for the system to function. If it was necessaryto dig 15 feet to reach the level 3 of the water-filled exit cylinder,you could attach 14 feet of the solid tube to the bottom of a 1 footdeep permeable catch basin. This way the basin would have the largesurface area needed to collect the water that would collect in the uppersoil profile from rains, yet it would not be necessary to dig a 1 footdeep hole to the total depth of the fifteen feet. The last 14 feet wouldbe dug only large enough to accommodate a smaller diameter solid tube(i.e., 4 inches). The tube would have a solid screw-on bottom 51 at theend of it which would keep the water needed in the basin 10 fromdraining back into the soil profile.

FIG. 11 illustrates the adaptation of the system of the presentinvention for draining water through a sub-surface air and water stack.Through the use of a sub-surface air and water stack 80 adapted to asolid drainage pipe 82, an existing surface system could easily be madeto collect subsurface water. In the present system, when there is soliddrain pipe 82 running laterally under the soil surface carrying surfacewater from existing impermeable catch basins to an exit point, thisdesign could be of use. The solid pipe in the existing system would haveno way of collecting sub-surface water, since its only openings would beto impermeable catch basins that collect only surface water. Byconnecting a permeable vent or drainage stack 80 to drain pipe 82, thecollection ability of the entire system could be enhanced without havingto change the existing design that is in the ground. The system wouldnow not only collect the surface water but would also collect thesub-surface water through the vent 80. The drainage stack 80, soextending upward from the pipe, would be accommodated with a permeablesidewall 84, such as with a permeable catch basin 10. Any water 86draining into line 82 would allow air 88 trapped within the soil profileto escape through escape tube 80, and therefore more water could beabsorbed into the soil profile.

FIG. 2 might illustrate the use of the present invention while it isused as a sump as the final collection point in a drainage system. If itis not affordable, desirable or necessary to build a system that wouldsiphon the water out of catch basin 10, the catch basin could be adaptedto be the final exit point of the water. This configuration would beused to replace a present day gravel sump. With this system, the basinwould provide additional temporary storage space for the water that hasbeen collected by pipes 19 that bring the water to the basin. Thedifference between this system and one that is used in a siphon systemis that the floor and all parts of the system would be permeable and notsolid. Wherein a siphon system we would want to maintain the levels ofthe water so that we do not lose our prime in the basin, with thissystem we would want the water to have as many exit points back into thesoil as possible. The water would start to exit the basin as soon as thesoil's moisture was below field capacity. At this point, the water wouldstart to move out of the catch basin by hydrostatic pressure to the airspaces within the soil profile. Although this system would provide alimited amount of storage, it would provide approximately 10 times theamount of storage space that would be created by a standard constructedgravel sump in the same space.

Likewise, in referring to FIG. 10 of the present invention, the conceptof the permeable wall 14 for air and water vents could be utilized inthe concept of drainage of golf green 70 through the use of thepermeable layer 15 in "cup" 72 located on the green. Adapting the cupbody with the permeable wall 15 would allow any air trapped under thegreen surface to be vented out of the wall 14 into the cup 72, andtherefore, green 70 would accommodate a greater absorption of water intothe profile of the green. Therefore, there would be a faster drying timeof the green if the air (Arrows 74), were displaced by the water beingabsorbed into the soil

In FIG. 9 there is illustrated an embodiment in the system whichutilizes permeable catch basin 10 as being placed at the lower end ofthe tube 50 with the water level in catch basin 10 being equal to theupper water level of the water contained in exit cylinder 25. Therefore,as seen in the Figure, line 30 could retrieve water which is collectedin permeable catch basin 10 from an underground water source 90, andcontinues to siphon the water from catch basin 10 as it enters throughthe permeable walls, with the level of the water in the exit zones 25allowing the siphons in line 30 to be maintained so that the water couldbe siphoned therefrom.

FIGS. 12 through 16 illustrate an additional embodiment of a catch basinthat may be utilized with the present invention, the catch basin beingof the type that may be assembled on site and thereafter positionedwithin a space formed in the ground to be used as a catch basin with thepermeable type walls. As illustrated, more particularly in FIG. 12,catch basin 100 would include a rectangular base 102 formed of four sidepieces held together at their end portions to form the rectangular base102. There is further illustrated a similar rectangular top portion 104,which is conformed to the same shape as base 102 for defining the upperlevel of catch basin 100. Top portion 104 is interconnected to baseportion 102 via a plurality of upstanding frame members 106, each of theframe members substantially forming a right angle for the lower endportions 108 of which are secured into each of the corners 110 of thebase portion 102 via a plurality of bolts 112, or the like. In similarfashion, the upper ends 114 of each of the post members 106 are formedinto the corners 116 of the top portion 104 to form the rectangularcatch basin frame 126 as is illustrated in FIG. 13.

As is further illustrated, there is the upper end of catch basin 100 aspositioned thereupon, a grating 120, which is formed of a plurality ofparallel bars 122, which define openings 124 therebetween, that allowthe flow of water into the grate 120.

In essence, after the culvert 100 has been fully constructed as seen inFIG. 13, it would serve as a typical culvert in the sense that it wouldallow water to flow from the surface through grate 120 into the confinesof the culvert.

Furthermore, the formed box culvert 126 that is formed via the frameworkas described earlier, as seen is devoid of any sidewalls or the like.Therefore, there is provided a bag 130, which is formed of a permeablematerial, which would allow the flow of water through the material butyet not allow dirt or other debris to flow through the material. Thismaterial would be of a geotextile fabric that was described earlier inthe application. Bag 130, of course, would be constructed of foursidewalls 132, a floor portion (not illustrated) 134, with a top opening136 for defining the interior of the bag 138 therewithin as illustratedin FIG. 12. After the box 126 has been formed, the frame would then beinserted into the bag 130, after bag 130 has been placed within anopening 140, in the ground 143 as illustrated in FIG. 16. After theframework has been placed within bag 130, of course, bag 130 would serveas the wall between the surrounding ground 143, and the opening 140formed by the interior of the bag.

Turning now to FIG. 14, there is illustrated in side view the frame 126,with top portion 104, upright members 106, and base portion 102 formingthe interior 138 of bag 130, wherein water may have drained in thedirection of arrows 140 and into the interior 138, and has formed thepool 142, and likewise water from the surrounding soil 143 would drainin the direction of arrows 150 through the permeable bag 130 and intothe culvert opening space 138. There would be provided a drainage line152 leading out of drainage space 138 in order to allow any watercollected within culvert 130 to drain out of line 152 to be drained intoa further point. As illustrated, line 152 is inserted through an opening154 in the wall 132 of bag 130, so that the line has access into thematerial of the culvert.

FIG. 15 illustrates the manner in which the disassembled culvert may beshipped, that is with the upper portion 104 of base portion 102 stackedtightly against one another with grate 120 positioned therebetween, andbag 130 likewise positioned to form a compact rectangular box formation160, which lends itself to being packaged and stored for sale or use inthe industry, and when purchased may be hauled out on site, andassembled on site prior to installation. Therefore, the portability ofthis permeable catch basin is quite unique, and provides for a systemthat can be assembled from a very compact, easy to store unit.

Because many varying and different embodiments may be made within thescope of the inventive concept herein taught, and because manymodifications may be made in the embodiments herein detailed inaccordance with the descriptive requirement of the law, it is to beunderstood that the details herein are to be interpreted as illustrativeand not in a limiting sense.

What is claimed as invention is:
 1. An improved catch basin positionablewithin the soil, the catch basin comprising:(a) a catch basin frame,comprising a floor portion, a top portion, four corner upright postmembers, the floor portion, top portion, and four post members whenassembled, defining the framework of the catch basin; (b) a permeablebag, positioned into an opening in the soil, for placing the erectedframe into the opening, the bag comprising a geo-textile fabric, so thatair and water may be absorbed from the soil profile surrounding the bagand may flow through the geo-textile fabric in the wall portions intointerior of the catch basin; (c) an upper grate portion, positioned ontop of the top portion, for receiving ground water flowing through thetop portion into the interior of the catch basin; and (d) means fordraining the water from the water collected in the catch basin to adistant collection point.
 2. The catch basin in claim 1, wherein thecatch basin may be stored and transported in a confined area, and may beassembled into the erected catch basin on site.
 3. The catch basin inclaim 1, further comprising a drain line extending out of at least onewall portion of the permeable bag for draining water out of the catchbasin that has flowed into the catch basin either through the grateportion or the permeable side walls.
 4. An improved catch basinpositionable within the soil, the catch basin comprising:(a) a catchbasin frame, comprising a floor portion, a top portion, four cornerupright post members, the floor portion, top portion, and four postmembers which, when unassembled, define a confined assemblage of partsthat can be easily stored; (b) a permeable bag, positioned into anopening in the soil, for placing the erected frame into the opening, thebag comprising a geo-textile fabric, so that air and water may beabsorbed from the soil profile surrounding the bag and may flow throughthe geo-textile fabric in the wall portions into interior of the catchbasin; (c) an upper grate portion, positioned on top of the top portion,for receiving ground water flowing through the top portion into theinterior of the catch basin; (d) means for draining the water from thewater collected in the catch basin to a distant collection point;so thatwhen the catch basin frame is assemblied, the frame would define a boxedframe having the floor portion, top portion, four corner upright postmembers insertible into the bag positioned into the opening in the soil,with the upper grate portion positioned on top for defining the catchbasin.
 5. The catch basin in claim 4, wherein the basin frame ismanufactured of light-weight rigid material that may be held togethervia bolting or the like.